Calabria Taber

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Services

A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 16, at Kaneville Cemetery, Kaneville, IL. All are welcome to attend.

Visitation

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, September 15, at Chapelstreet Church, 2300 South St., Geneva, IL.

Final Rest

Kaneville Cemetery

Calabria “Cali” Marie Taber, age 21, of Maple Park, died tragically following a motorcycle accident on September 10, 2017. Gone in an instant, the brightness of her soul continues to linger in our hearts. Cali will forever live on in the memories warmly shared between friends and family.
She was born on July 6, 1996, the daughter of Julie Parrilli in Geneva, IL.
Cali grew up in Maple Park and attended local schools. She attended both Kaneland High School and Cornerstone Christian Academy in Sycamore, but graduated from Colorado Timberline Academy in Colorado with the class of 2014.
After graduation, Cali returned to Maple Park and worked as a waitress while trying to find her place in the world. Sales called to her like no other, and despite some reservations and initial shyness, she excelled at auto sales. Courted by several businesses, it wasn’t long before Cali made a name for herself and garnered several awards. Gerald Subaru in Naperville became her home away from home and the staff became extended family. No one left an encounter with Cali without a smile, if not a new car.
Cali showed a true affinity for animals as a small child and rode horses since she was nine years old. Since that time, she was never without a four-legged friend. From her horse, Mater, dogs, guinea pigs, and hamsters, Cali was always surrounded by the love of a pet. She even successfully begged her parents to get her own chickens! She especially loved Rottweilers, and in particular, Remy, who stole her heart from first sight. Cali also had an artist’s soul and appreciated painting and drawing, including a short lived stint as a tattoo artist. A red Ford Focus, aptly named “The Flying Tomato”, became her hallmark and was known across the countryside. Cali also loved the outdoors and everything that came with it. She spent nearly all day, every day outside, often in the company of her brothers. The times she spent at her grandparent’s house by the lake in Wisconsin were some of her favorite, especially when she could spend an entire week over her birthday. Driving the “chuck wagon” like she stole it, hiking across the prairies, boating and swimming in the lake were only a few examples that made it one of the best places on earth. Hiking in Colorado and Montana with her mom, Aunt Biz, and brother Chris, backpacking across the mountain ranges, skiing down the slopes at incredible speed, nothing held Cali back for long. She was always up to the challenge. Cali loved to travel and take road trips with various “co-pilots”, including her mom, dad, her brothers, Aunt Mary and grandma and grandpa, discovering new places that have now become favorite destinations. Every mile she traveled heightened the beauty of her free spirit, but nothing calmed her soul like being home with family. Cali, as sweet as her smile was, had a devious side that put a certain sparkle in her eye and mischief in her heart. She was up for anything, but at the end of the day, no thrills could compete with the love and peace she found while surround by family, friends and her one true love, Dillon. Their dogs, Diesel, Rocky and Remy came in at a close second. No words can describe her loss, no picture could encapsulate her beauty, both inside and out, but the effect she had on those lucky enough to know her, can never be denied.
She is survived by her mom, Julie Parilli; her dad Jacoby O’Connor; two brothers: Christopher and Cory Taber; one uncle, Daniel Parrilli; Aunts Elizabeth Bobowiec, and Mary Bobowiec; maternal grandmother, Charlotte Parrilli not to mention the one who stole her heart, and the one who she gave hers in return, Dillon Strack; his mother Sue Strack; and many other extended family that were blessed to know and love Cali.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Timothy Parrilli.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, September 15, at Chapelstreet Church, 2300 South St., Geneva, IL. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 16, at Kaneville Cemetery, Kaneville, IL. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Cali’s name to benefit T.A.I.L.S. Animal Shelter, where she and her family volunteered. Checks may be made to the “Calabria Taber Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can see her full life story.